Moving locally or to another state is never easy, especially when you don’t have the appropriate help. What’s even more challenging is when you’re in the dark on the upcoming expenses of your relocation.
But don’t worry! You are in the right path with the research you’re doing now. If you’re looking for information on how much it costs to move to Philadelphia, you’ve come to the right place.
By the end, you learn more about several important aspects such as the estimate your moving costs – distance and bulk of the move, help required – and tips to minimize these expenses. Be sure to read until the end!
Computing the Average Cost for Hiring Movers
Size and bulk of the move
Understanding how moving companies charge for their services is important. Here is a brief rundown of the typical charges for a ground floor or single-detached home move.
- Home Size
- Number of movers
- Base Cost (service for 2 hours)
- Additional hours
Smaller homes have lower base costs and manpower needs. A studio and a 1-bedroom house may cost you from $340-$420 for a 3-4 hour service. Medium homes range from $745-$1,085, while large homes will cost you $1,355-$2,320. (Source: moveBuddha)
Distance and logistics of the move
Moving within a state is cheaper compared to an out-of-state move. Movers usually charge a base cost for distance and additional cost per mile. Be sure that the quotation includes toll fees, fuel costs, and the usual expenses incurred during the move.
Moves from high-rise apartments without service elevators or needing help moving fragile furniture or antiques are factors in the cost. Movers charge these services separately. On the same note, moving bulky furniture like a couch, bed, or closet also costs you money.
Insurance coverage
You should also consider insurance coverage for your moves, especially if you have jewelry, antiques, fine art pieces, and similar valuable items in your move. Aside from the regular insurance, you may also want to get floater insurance to replace these items in cases of theft, loss, or damage during transit.
Floater insurance, however, doesn’t cover your items in bulk. Coverage usually costs 1-2% of the value of your items. Insurers, however, provide an insurance coverage ceiling for your valuables to keep the premiums affordable.
Additional Costs
- Movers charge by the hour when the move is within the 30-mile radius in Philadelphia. This Philly restriction prevents the movers from giving a binding estimate, which means you may need additional help for moving your stuff if you want to save on moving rental.
- If you don’t have a parking space in front of your house, you need to apply for a temporary “no-parking” permit. For $25-$50 a day, you can use a 40-foot space in front of your house. However, you need to apply for the space at least 3 working days in advance.
- If your moving truck is larger than the 40-feet allowed space, you need smaller vehicles to shuttle your belongings from your house to the moving truck. This arrangement will cost you extra labor and fuel costs.
Tips to Lower Your Moving Costs
Aside from finding a low-cost moving service, here are a few tips to reduce your moving costs.
Streamline your stuff
Moving your bulky furniture if you’re moving to a different state will cost you more than buying a new one. Get rid of the bulky stuff, books you don’t read, clothes, and shoes you no longer wear to maximize the moving truck space and save on costs. If you decide to sell them, you’ll also have extra cash you can use later.
Choose an off-season moving date
Unless your move is urgent, an off-season move is less expensive. Moves during the middle of the month on a weekday is an excellent solution. On top of that, relocating during the fall will benefit you the most. Why? Because there’s not much demand so you can negotiate a decent price with movers while the weather’s still not as bad as in winter. Keep in mind that moving during summer will be the most expensive choice together with transferring at the start of the semester since students are expected to move into their dorms.
Be smart when packing
It is cheaper to pack your things if you have both time and patience. You can hire a professional packer for large valuable items like a hot tub, etc. Schedule 2-3 hours a day to pack a room. Take photos of boxes’ contents, label them accordingly, and make a list of all the boxes for easier cross-checking.
Get the right packing supplies
Stock on boxes, newspapers, egg trays, etc., to save on packing supplies. Get appropriately-sized moving boxes (small boxes for heavier items, large boxes for lighter items), rolls of packing tape, sticker paper for labels, markers, etc.
Avail of move programs for your utilities
Contact your utility provider before the move to avail of their move programs. Companies usually give incentives to their users, so they stay even after the move.
Get your boxes move-ready
Move most of your boxes near the front door, so you save on time, especially if you’re on an hourly charge.
Conclusion
It helps to know what to expect months before the move, rather than jump into it without knowing the facts. This way you can come up with a solid plan that’ll result in a seamless transition. And oh, make sure to check out these neighborhoods in Philadelphia if you’re still looking for a place.